KOLD 13 News anchor Ana Orsini died last week from a brain aneurysm at age 28, the Tucson, Arizona television station announced. Her co-anchors, Tyler Butler and Carsyn Currier, shared the news during an emotional live broadcast.
“Ana Orsini, you were one in a trillion; wise beyond your years, full of practical insight, smart, compassionate, quick-witted, and possessed a contagious love for animals,” wrote Dan Marries, an evening anchor at KOLD 13 News in a Facebook post.
Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Orsini began her college career at the University of Arizona before transferring to Texas A&M University, where she graduated with a degree in journalism and a double minor in communication and sports management.
Her television career started in 2018 in Lubbock, Texas where she worked as an anchor and reporter. During her time there, she launched a “Pet of the Day” segment to help local shelter animals find homes. Before moving to Tucson, she spent three years as a morning and midday anchor in Medford, Oregon.
Co-workers described Orsini as a “peanut-butter-M&M-loving, platform-Ugg-wearing, pink-or-purple-Stanley-toting ray of sunshine” who made everyone around her feel special.
“To know Ana was to LOVE her,” wrote co-anchor Carsyn Currier in a social media post. “She made everyone around her feel so special, heard and understood.”
At KOLD 13 News, which she joined in June 2023, Orsini quickly became known for her signature phrase during broadcasts, “Let the women do the work!” Colleagues remembered her as someone with “bottomless empathy” who consistently supported newer staff members and served as a mentor to younger journalists.
Her passion for animal welfare extended beyond her professional life. She owned a rescue dog named Harley and was known for her dedication to helping shelter animals throughout her career.
The KOLD 13 News team honored her memory by wearing pink during broadcasts and sharing favorite moments from her time at the station. Colleagues highlighted her love for true crime podcasts, college football, and her infectious sense of humor.
She came from a family with diverse collegiate ties – her twin sisters attended UCLA as cheerleaders, while her parents were University of Arizona alumni. She is survived by her sisters, parents, and her rescue dog Harley.
Her family has requested that donations be made to local animal shelters in her memory, noting that she “never met a dog she didn’t love.” The station aired a tribute video featuring clips of Orsini with rescue dogs and moments from her time behind the anchor desk.
